Bracelet construction



July 17, 1928.

1,677,204 A. PERSON BRACELET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 30, 1926 22 23 XNVENTOR @4 1; PM

W 2. em;- mm

Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,677,204 PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL PERSON, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HARVEY CLAPIP & 00., OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIP.

BRACELET CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed December 30, 1926, Serial No. 157,909. Renewed November 30, 1927.

This invention relates to bracelet ,construction and more particularly to extensible bracelets. One of the objects thereof is to provide an extensible bracelet of practical construction and capable of meeting the requirements of practical use in a highly satisfactory manner. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature which is strong and rugged. Another object in is to provide a construction of the above nature wherein units of the bracelet may be inserted or removed with convenience to vary the length of the bracelet. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature which, when assembled,is not likely to become disarranged in use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature which is neat and attractive in appearance. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of ele ments, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure tobe hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is i=1 shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bracelet shown somewhat diagrammatically and with the middle portion thereof broken away;

86 Figure 2 is a bottom view of a portion of the bracelet shown partly in elevation and partly in section;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a portion of the bracelet showing the bracelet units in extended position and with parts thereof broken away;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of part of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 3. I Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail,

there is shown in Figure 1 a bracelet made up of a series of bracelet units indicated generally by the numeral 10, these units being hinged together as will be described in detail hereinafter. This bracelet in Figure l is shown provided with a pair of end clasps 11 by means of which the bracelet ends may be attached to a wrist Watch or the like. It is to be understood, however, that the construction described hereinafter is not limited, in its use, to a wrist watch'bracelet as the bracelet construction may be employed to advantage in other relations.

The separate units 10 of this bracelet are preferably all substantially identical in construction and each comprises an outer link and an inner link which is slidably mounted therein and urged thereinto by a spring. The outer link has a top wall 12and depending side walls 13 and 14. These side walls 13 and 14 are bent or extended inwardly at the bottom, as shown at 13 and 14, and thence are extended upwardly toward the top wall 12. forming vertical inner walls 13 and 14 which extend parallelto and are spaced a short distance from the outer side walls 13 and 14 respectively. As is best seen in Figure 6, the walls 13 and 14 are spaced at their upper edges from the under surface of the top wall 12. Also, these walls 13 and 14 with the respective walls 13 and 14 form what might be termed a pair of 85 longitudinally extending channels, one at either side of the outer link.

The inner link which is slidably mounted in the outer link comprises a top wall 15, a bot-tom wall 16 and end walls 17 and 18. This slidable inner link has also depending side walls 19 and 20. As may be seen in Figure 6. the top wall 15 of the inner link is slidably received between the upper edges of the parts 13* and 14 and the bottom surface of t-heupper wall 12 of the outer link. The sidewalls 19 and 20 of the inner link are slidably received in and guided by the longitudinal channels formed between the walls 13 and 13 and the walls 14 and 14* respectively. The bottom wall 16 of the inner link is received between the parts 13 and 14 and its surface is preferably substantially flush with the surfaces of these two parts.

Within the inner slidable link is positioned a spring 21 which urges the parts to take the contracted position shown in Fig ures 2 and 3. In Figure 4 the bracelet units shown are in extended position the inner no loo link beingslid out of theouter link and the spring 21 being compressed. The spring 21, at one end, bears against the end wall 16 of the inner link: At its other end the spring bears against a spring abutment which, preterably takes the form of a pair of lugs and 23. These lugs are preferably formed integrally with the respective portions 18" and let" of the outer link, extending inwardly therefrom toward each other. The end of these lugs are preferably bent at right angles to provide portions 22 and 23 which enter the end of thespiral spring. By this construction the spring is dependably held in 5 its proper position At the left-hand end of the outer link, as viewed in the drawing, the Side walls 13 and 14: project outwardly providing rounded end portions 13 and 14. Between these two parts 13 and 14 i; a connecting member preferably taking the term of a rivet or pintle 25. At the other end of the outer link the ends of the side walls 13 and ll are concave and rounded to mate with the rounded end portions 13 and14of the next adjoining bracelet unit.

The bottom walliti of the slidable inner link is split, as shown at 26, adjacent the end thereof remote from the pintle 25. The end- 18 of the inner link thus provides a hook which is adapted to detachably engage the pintle 25 of the adjoining bracelet unit to connect the bracelet units together.

The split 26 preferably extends across the bottom wall 16 diagonally, one end thereol being further from the end wall 18 than is the other end thereof. This gives'the lip of the hook it taper or an inclinewhich insures a dependable locking of the hook over the pintle of the next bracelet unit. In joining the units or in separating them, the inner link is first pulled out to its extended position, compressing the spring 21, and then the bottom wall 16 adjacent to the hook is de pressed, as shown in Figure 5. lhereupon, thelink are swung to therelative positions whiehare indicated in Figure 5, andthen the pintle 25 may be moved through the split 26 by twisting the position ol the two links with respect to one another, as indicated by the position of the pintle- 25 at the right hand side of Figure l The links can not be thus twisted without first swinging them to the relative positionsshown in Figure 5 and without holding theinner -link' extended against theaction of the spring 21-, and thu the possibility of-the links being detached unintentionally is extremely remote." However, when it is desired to remove or insert a unit of the bracelet in order to change its length, this can beaccomplished very conveniently without requiring the use of tools.

It will be seen that this bracelet is exceptionally strong and rugged and yet of simple construction. The double side walls of the outer links serve to strengthen the construction and,the side walls of the inner links'being supported and guided between these double walls, the stability ol the entire construction is greatly enhanced. ,dorcover, the bracelet presents an attractive appearance from the top and from the sides whether it be in contracted or extended position.

A; many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be undcrsti'iod that all matter hcreinbel'ore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be intcr' preted'as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each ol' said units including, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and side walls de pending therefrom, aid side walls being bent inwardly at the bottom and thence ex tending upwardly toward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, and an inner link slidable longitudinally within said outer link and having a top wall and depending side walls, said side walls resting in said clam-- nels.

A bracelet comprising a 'ilurality ol' bacelet units connected together, each of *aid units including, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and side walls, an inner link slidable within said outer link and having top, bottom and end walls, a pair of lugs at one end of said outer link l'ormed integrally with said side walls thereof and projecting inwardly toward each other, and avspring within said inner link acting between an end wall thereof and said lugs, the inner ends of said lugs being bent to extend longitiulinally ol said link and entering the end of said spring.

3. A.bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an outerlink having a top wall and side walls depending therefrom, said side walls being bent inwardly at the bottom and thence extending upwardlytoward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, and an inner link slidable within said outer link having top, bottom and end walls and sidewalls depending from said top wall, said side walls restingin said channels and said inner link having means adjacent one end for connection with the next adjoining bracelet unit.

A. A bracelet comprising. a plurality of bracelet .units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an

Inn

lU-l

lln

Ill)

outer link having a top wall and side walls depending therefrom, said side walls being bent inwardly at the bottom and thence extending upwardly toward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, an inner link slidable within said outer link having top, bottom and end walls and side walls depending from said top wall, said side walls resting in said channels, a spring abutment be tween said upwardly extending portions of the side walls of said outer link, and a spring within said inner link acting between an end wall thereof and said spring abutment.

5. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and side walls depending therefrom, said side walls being bent inwardly at the bottomand thence extending upwardly toward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, an inner link slidable within said outer link having top, bottom and end walls and side walls depending from said top wall, said side walls resting in said channels, a pair of inwardly projecting lugs adjacent one end of said outer link forined'integrally with said upwardly extending portions of the side walls thereof, and a spring within said inner link acting between an end wall thereof and said lugs.

6. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an out er link having a top wall and side walls depending therefrom, said side walls being bent inwardly at the bottom and thence extending upwardly toward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, an inner link slidable within said outer link having top, bottom and end walls and side walls depending from said top wall, said side walls resting in said channels, a spring abutment between said side Walls of said outer link adjacent one end thereof, a spring within said inner link acting between an end wall thereof and said spring abutment, said bottom wall of said inner link being split to form a hook for connection with an adjoining bracelet unit, and means between said side walls of said outer link at the end thereof remote from said spring abutment for cooperating with the hook of an adjoining unit.

7. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an out.- er link having a top wall and a pair of up right longitudinally extending walls at each side thereof, means connecting said upright walls together along one of the longitudinal edges thereof, and an inner link slidable within said outer link andhaving a pair of side walls resting respectively between and guided by said two pairs of upright walls of said outer link.

S. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an out.- er link having a top wall and at each side thereof depending side walls and between said side walls a pair of inner walls positioned respectively adjacent to said two side walls and substantiallly parallel thereto, the top edges of said inner walls being spaced from the under side of said top wall, and an inner sliding link having a top wall positioned beneath the top wall of said outer link and depending side walls resting respectively between one of said side walls and one of said inner walls of said outer link, each of said inner walls being connected along its bottom edge to the adjacent side wall of the outer link.

9. A bracelet comprising a plurality ol? bracelet units connected together, each of said units inc uding, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and at each side thereof depending outer side walls and between said side walls a pairof inner walls positioned respectively adjacent to said two side walls and substantially parallel thereto, each of, said inner walls being connected to its adjacent outer wall along its bottom edge, the top edges of said inner walls being spaced from the under side of said top wall, an inner link having a top wall positioned beneath the top wall of said outer link and depending side walls resting respectively be tween one of said side walls and one oi. said inner walls of said outer link, and a spring positioned between said two inner walls and acting to hold said inner link against slid ing outwardly from within said outer link.

10. A bracelet comprising a plurality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and side walls depending therefrom, said side walls being bent inwardly at the bottom and thence extending upwardly toward the under side of said top wall and forming beneath said top Wall a pair of longitudinal channels one at either side of said link, an inner link slidable longitudinally within said outer link and having top, bottom and end walls, means depending lrom the sides of the top wall of said inner link adapted to slide in said channels, and a spring positioned between said upwardly extending portions of the side walls of said outer link and covered at the bottom of the bracelet unit by said bottom wall of the inner link, said spring acting to hold said inner link against sliding outwardly from said outer link.

lllll llu 11. A bracelet comprising a plu 'ality of bracelet units connected together, each of said units including, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and at each side thereof depending side walls, said side walls being extended inwardly at their bottom edges and thence being bent upwardly forming a pair of inner walls positioned respectively adjacent to said two side walls and substantially parallel thereto, the top edges of said inner walls being spaced from the under side of said top wall, a bandshaped inner link slidable longitudinally in said outer link and having formed integrally therewith a pair of dependinc sides resting respectively between one of said side walls and the adjacent inner wall of said outer link, and a spring positioned within said band-shaped link and acting to hold the same against sliding outwardly from said outer link.

12. A bracelet unit adapted to be connected to similar units to form a bracelet chain and comprising, in combination, an outer link having side walls, a connecting member between said side walls adjacent one end thereof, an inner link slidable within said outer link and having top, bottom and end walls. and a spring within said inner link bearing against one end thereof and tending to hold said inner link within said outer link, said bottom wall of said inner link being split diagonally adjacent the end thereof opposite to that against which the spring bears to form a hook, the lip of which is longer on one side than on the other, said hook being adapted to detachably engage the connecting member between the side walls of the outer link of another bracelet unit.

13. A bracelet unit adapted to be connected to similar units to form a bracelet chain and comprising, in combination, an

outer link having side walls, a connecting member between said side walls adjacent one end thereof, an inner link slidable within said outer link and con'iprising a sheet metal band, the ends of which are cut diagonally and face each other at the bottom wall of the link and adjacent one end thereof, and a spring within said inner link bearing against the end wall thereof opposite said first end and urging said inner link into said outer link, one of said diagonally cut ends forming a hook the lip of which is longer on one side than on the other, said hook being adapted to dctachably engage the connecting member between the side walls of the outer link of another bracelet unit.

14. A bracelet unit adapted to be connected to similar units to form a bracelet chain and comprising, in combination, an outer link having a top wall and side walls. a pin extending between said side walls adjacent one end of said link, an inner link slidable within said outer link and comprising a sheet metal band the ends of which face each other adjacent one end of the bottom wall of the link, said inner link having side walls depending from the top wall thereof, a spring within said inner link bearing against the end thereof opposite to said first. end and urging said inner link into said outer link, said two ends of said inner link member being sul'istantially parallel and extending diagonally in the bottom wall of the link, said end portion of the link thus having a hook the lip of which is longer on one side than on the other, said book being adapted to detachably engage the connecting pin between the side walls of the outer link of another bracelet unit.

In testimony whereof, I have signed qmy name to this specification this twenty-first day of December, A. D. 1926.

AXEL PERSON.

' CERTIFICATE o1 w CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,677,204. V e Y QGran'c ed5ii1 ?f192s,;my,

AXEL PERSON.

It is hereby certified that thename of the assigneein the above numbered patent was erroneously written and printed as-"Harvey Clapp & 00.", whereas 'said name should have been written and printed as "Harvey Clap & 00.", as

shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said-Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatthe same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 12th day of February, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of-Patents. 

